Decorated New Zealand Paralympics athlete Peter Martin has been cleared to compete at the London Games despite testing positive for a banned substance.
Four-time gold medallist Martin, 50, was reprimanded by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand which deemed he had inadvertently taken probenecid, which was found in his system in an out-of-competition test last month.
The Waikato track and field athlete is one of 26 New Zealand athletes selected for the Games which begin in London on August 29. He will compete in shot put and javelin.
Martin admitted the violation but gave evidence that it was inadvertent as a result of medical treatment.
A doctor had diagnosed an infected arm as cellulitis and in evidence said probenecid had been prescribed as an essential treatment for what is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Martin said he had told the doctor he was a Paralympic athlete and was subject to drug testing so couldn't take a prohibited substance. However, he and the doctor were anaware probenecid was on the banned list.
In a statement, the tribunal noted Martin had the option at the time of requesting a "therapeutic use exemption" but had failed to do so.
The tribunal ruled Martin's actions were those "of a very sick man" and imposed the minimum penalty of a reprimand.
Martin has won seven Paralympic medals - including four gold - in field throwing events at Games in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
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